CHRISTMAS WITH BANDURA IN JERSEY CITY, NJ

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 Ostap Stakhiw is a renowned Ukrainian bandurist and a National’s Artist of Ukraine. He began his professional career in the Lviv Philharmonic and the “Vatra” ensemble, and later as a founder and leader of the “Folklore Theater of Ostap Stakhiw.”  Ostap Stakhiw is a respected educator and accomplished bandura and vocal performer. He created and presented original theatrical concert programs and toured widely across Ukraine, the United States, Canada and globally. His work has been featured in numerous films and video productions. Dedicated to preserving the art of the bandura and served as a jury member for festivals and competitions. Ostap Stakhiw is a medalist at the 2001 World Championship of Performing Arts and the founder of BandurArts.

 Solomia Stahiv is a Ukrainian musician and accomplished bandura player. She graduated from a bandura and piano program in Lviv, Ukraine and played in the National Bandura Ensemble “Zoryanytsia” under Honored Artist of Ukraine Zinovia Sychak. Now based in North America, she performs as a solo bandura artist throughout the United States and Canada and is part of the Women’s Bandura Ensemble of North America (WBENA), sharing and promoting bandura music and Ukrainian culture. She is also an active member of BandurArts.

  Oksana Lupak graduated from the Drohobych Music College of Vasyl Barvinsky specializing in bandura and later from the Drohobych Pedagogical University, the Music Pedagogy Department, where she earned a Master’s Degree in Music Arts.

For 37 years, she worked at the Dobrohostiv Music School as a bandura instructor, head of the folk instruments department, and director of the bandura ensemble. She also sang in the choir of the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Drohobych. Her bandura students have repeatedly become diploma recipients and laureates of regional and international competitions.

Today, she continues to share her skill and experience with new generations of students and currently teaches music at the “Nova Khvylka” School of Ukrainian Studies in Brooklyn.